Electrical switch



Oct. 28, 1924. 7 1,513,437

L. J. VOORHEES ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Feb. 6, 1920 Patented Oct. 28,1924.

UNITED STATES 1,513,437 PATENT OFFICE.

LEE J. VOOBHEES, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T NATIONAL CARBONCOMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed February 6, 1920.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEE J. VooRHEEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricalSwitches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical switches of a kind havinga primarycircuit-controlling mechanism, normally freely operable to open or closean electrical circuit, and having also a superior controlling or lockingmechanism adapted, on proper manipulation, to place the primarymechanism in a position to either open or close the circuit, as desired,and to retain the primary mechanism in such position until furthermanipulation of the secondary-or locking mechanism. Such switches areapplicable to electrical apparatus in which there is a circuit whichmust, under certain operating conditions, 'be frequently opened andclosed, and with a minimum of physical exertion, but which, undercertain other operating conditions, must be opened or closed forprolonged periods of time. In order to obtain the desirable facility ofoperation, the primary circuit-controlling mechanism may take the formof a member which may be moved by the pressure of the thumb or finger,and it may be restrained by a spring so that it will always return tothe same position when the pressure is removed. YVhen the above or asimilar form of primary circuit-controlling mechanism is employed, thelocking mechanism must be capable of replacing manual pressure on theprimary circuit-controlling mechanism at times when the primarymechanism is required to be maintained for prolonged periods in theposition to which it can be forced by manual pressure. Since onemanipulation of the locking mechanism suffices for a considerable time,it is not necessary that this mechanism should be operable with the samefacility as the primary circuit closing mechanism. Even when, as in thecase assumed, the primary mechanism is held in one of its positions bythe tension of a spring, ease of operation requires that the tensionshould be so adjusted that the primary circuit-controlling mechanismwill require only a slight pressure to move it against the tension ofthe p i Under these conditions, the pri:

Serial No. 356,661.

mary mechanism is apt to be accidentally displaced from its spring-heldposition, and it is desirable to provide means which will maintain theposition of the contacts in spite of an accidental pressure applied tothe primary circuit-controlling mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch mechanism which willcombine the functions recited above.

Examples of electrical apparatus in which a very readily operablecircuitcontrolling mechanism together with means for more stably fixingcircuit-controlling elements in certain positions will readily suggestthemselves. Electric-niotors driving drills, such as dentists drills,automobile trouble lamps connected to sources of current by extensioncords, and switches used in making electrical measurements, inconnection with such instruments as voltmeters, ammeters and lVheatstonebridges may be here mentioned, but for the sake of illustration, theswitch mechanism of the present invention will be described inconnection with a portable self-contained battery hand lamp, of the kindcommonly known as flash-lights.

An embodiment of the invention as ap plied to a common form offlash-light is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is anelevation. of a flash-light provided with the improved switch, lookingdown upon the switch.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the switch as viewed from theinterior of the lamp-casing. The lamp-casing is omitted for the sake ofclearness.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 but showing the switch indifferent positions.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a similar section on line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and 1 Fig. 7 is asimilar section on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the push-button of the switch, looking at thebottom of the button.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the push-button.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the member (shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7) formingthe external rotatable element of the switch.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the external rotatable member,

Fig. 12 is a fragmental plan view looking down upon the escutcheon platecarrying the switch mechanism.

' Fig. 13 is a plan View looking down .upon

the contact-carrying member of the switch and Fig. 14 is an elevation ofthe contact-car rying member.

In the embodiment shown. the switch assemblage is applied over anaperture in a fiash-lightc'asing 1. A conductor connects one-terminalo'f the battery with some portion of the switch, such as theescutcheonplate 2.' One terminal of the filament of the incandescentbulb is connected with t'he'other terminal of the battery while theother terminal of the bulb is connected with a contact-strip 3, passingbeneath the aperture in the casing 1 and hence beneath the switch. Whenthe'exter'n'alrotatable member 4 of the switchis' in the position shownin Figs. 2 and 5, the spring 5 raises'the push-button 6 to the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 5 with the switchout of contact with the strip 3.Pressure upon the push-button 6, exerted by the thumb or finger, willthen depress the button and the contact 7 against the tension ofthespring 5 until the contact 7 bears upon strip 3, when the lamp will belighted. Upon releasing the push-button, the spring will raise contact 7off the strip 3, and the light will be extinguished in an obviousmanner.

l/Vith the rotatable member 4 in the posi:

tion shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the contact 7 is carried around to a pointwhere it cannot come into contact with strip '3, whether the push-button6 is in its raised or depressed position. The structure of the switch,as will be hereafter explained, is such thatrotation of the member 4tothis position forces the push-button 6 and contact 7 against the tensionof the spring 5 to their depressed positions. Nevertheless, the lamp isnot lighted and cannot be lighted until the memher 4 is rotated toanother position.

hen the rotatable member 4 is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7,the contact member 7'is on the same side of the aperture in the casing 1asis the strip 3.. Since rotation to this position likewise forces thepush button 6 and contact 7 to their de pressed positions, thelamp iscontinuously lighted in this position of the switch and cannotb'eextin'guished without rotating the member 4. 1

The structurelof the parts which produce theeffectsabove noted willno-w'be described.

Stamped in the escutcheon plate'2 is a a flat circular portion 10 of thesame size as the portion 9 ofplate 2. In the assembled swltch, the disc10 always rests upon the table 9 The disc 10 has araised portion 11around its periphery and also a skirt 12 conforming with the conicalsurface 8. This shirt may be suitably knurled or fluted so" that itmay'bereadily turned with the fine ofmeinber 4 will be imparted topush-button s 6 and the contact-carrying member 16 which is rigidlyattached thereto, as will be here after explained. The slots 15, howeverare of greater length than slots '14 so that the member 4, thepush-button 6 and the contact-carrying member 16 may all be rotatedtogether through a considerable arc, the ro tation being limited by thesides oftongues 13 reaching the ends of the slots 15 Thecontact-carrying member 16 is shown? in Figs. 13 and 14 and comprises adisc portion and a contact shoe 7. ilotches 17 are provided in the edgeof disc and these are entered by the narrow ends118 ofthe metal. tongues13 which are integral with push-' button 6. By crimping theend's 18 ofthe tongues, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the

contact member z push-button 6.

is rigidly attached to the The push-button is fixed against rotationrelative to the member 4- but may approach or recede from it, its

travel in this direction being limited by the length of thebroadportions of the metal tongues 13.

The projections 19 on thetabular portion" 9, and the cavities 2O in thecontact-carrying member "16. are provided for the purpose ofdep'res'singthe contact shoe '7 against strip 3 when the member 4 isrotated to the'position shown in Figs. 3 and 7. In the posi-' tion shownin Figs. 2 and 5,.the-cavities 20' I register with the projections 19,permitting disc 10 to come into contact with table 9, the push-button torise to its elevated posi tion and the contact shoe 7 to separate fromthe strip 3. This is the flash position of the switch and the lamp willbe lighted only so 1011 as the button is held by the operator in itshepressed position. lation between the cavities 20, the :notches 17 Theangular rep in the edge of the member 16 andthe shoe" 7, on the one handand the projections 19 and slots 15 on'the other hand is such that whenthe projections and cavities register,

the contact shoe 7 just extends over theedge: of the strip 3 and themetal tongues 13 are centrally'located in the slots.

If the member 4. s new rotated eitherdirect-ion, projections 19 will nolonger leg 7 ister with cav1ties'20 and as they move out of registrytherewith, theislopi-ng sides of the projections will act as cam-namesto force down the member 16 carrying the contact shoe 7. The push-button6 will of course be drawn down to its depressed position. If therotation of member 4 was in the proper direction to carry contactshoe 7over strip 3, the simultaneous depression of the contact shoe will closethe circuit and the lamp will burn as long as the member 4 is not moved.If the rotation of member 4 was in the opposite direction, contact shoe7 will be carried away from strip 3 and the simultaneous depression ofcontact shoe 7 will be ineffectual to close the circuit.

It will thus be seen that when the member 4 is rotated as far aspossible in one direc tion, the lamp will be lighted and can beextinguished only by rotating member 4. In its other extreme position,member 4 is beyond the limits of conductor 8 and it is impossible tolight the lamp while the member remains in this position. lVhen member 4is in its median position, the lamp is lighted by pressing on thepuslrbutton and extinguished by releasing it.

As has already been indicated, the application of the switch is notrestricted to flashlights. Likewise, the illustrative example of anmbodiment of the invention imposes no restrictions on the scope of theinvention, the latter being defined solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable switch mechanism comprising a contact, a fixedconductor below the plane of all portions of said contact, in anintermittently operable position of said switch, means for reciprocatingthe contact along a path which intersects the fixed conductor, means forpositively depressing the contact and holding the same in engagementwith the fixed conductor in a closed circuit position, and means forrevolving the contact about an axis substantially parallel to its path01 reciprocation to a position beyond the limits of the fixed conductor,wherein closing of the circuit is prevented.

A switch mechanism comprising a contact, a fixed conductor, means forreciproeating the contact along a path which intersects the fixedconductor, means for revolving the contactabout an axis, and means,ineluding a cam surface, for forcing the contact against the fixedconductor when the contact is revolved.

about an axis to a 3. A switch mechanism comprising a contactreciprocable along a path which intersects a fixed conductor, a springadapted to normally maintain the contact away from the fixed conductor,means for moving the contact along its path to bring it against theconductor, means for revolving the contact position beyond the limits ofthe fixed conductor, means for revolving the contact to a secondposition over the fixed conductor, and means for positively depressingand holding the contact against the fixed conductor when the contact isrevolved to said second position.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a contact reciprocabl along a pathwhich intersects a fixed conductor, a spring adapted to normallymaintain the contact away from the fixed conductor, means for moving thecontact along its path to bring it against the conductor, means forrevolving the contact about an axis substantially parallel to its pathof reciprocation to a position beyond the limits of the fixed conductor,means for revolving the contact to a second position over the fixedconductor, and means, including a cam surface, for forcing the contactagainst the fixed conductor when the contact is revolved to said secondposition.

5. A switch mechanism comprising a push button carrying a contact, aconductor opposed to said contact, said contact having a working face ofirregular outline, means for rotating said contact into a plurality ofpositions, and means for positively depressing said contact in one suchposition into continuing engagement with the opposed conductor, wherebypermanent closure of the circuit is effected.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a conductor, a depressible contactopposed there to, said contact being asymmetrical with re spect to saidconductor, means for rotating said contact to a position where itsasym1net rical working face will be ineil ective to connect with saidconductor when actuation of the switch is to be avoided, or into aposition where its asymmetrical working face will be in continuingengagement with said conductor, and means for positively depressing thecontact into engagement with the conductor in said last-named position,

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LEE J. VOOR-HEES.

